Grip for cable-cars.



No. 669.3!4. Patented Mar. 5, I90I.

J. H. VANDEGRIFT. Y

GRIP-FOB CABLE BARS. (Application filed July 24. 1900.)

(No Model.)

T cams PETERS ca, wo'rouwq. wssm JOHN H. VANDEGRIFT, OF AL LENPORT,PENNSYLVANIA.

GRIP FOR CABLE-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,314, dated March 5,1901.

Application filed July 24, 1900.

T0 [LZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. VANDEGRIFT, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Allenport, in the county of ashington and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGrips for Cable-Oars, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements incable-grips, and it is particularly adapted and designed to be used as agrip for coal-cars and the like.

The in vention has for its object to construct a grip of this class,which may be conveniently and quickly attached and detached from a coalor mining car and which may also be quickly secured to or detached froma rope or cable.

Briefly described, the invention consists of a block which is integral,carrying a couplingarm adapted to be connected to the coupling of a coalor mining car, a spring-held grip which is actuated by a lever or camcarried by the block, and a stationary grip arranged within the block,the lever acting also as a weight to hold the spring-pressed grip inengagement with the rope or cable.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, formingapart of this specification and whereinlike numerals of reference indicate correspondin g parts throughout theseveral views, in Which Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a coalor mining car, showing my improved grip in position and in engagementwith the rope or cable. Fig. 2 is a side view of the grip, partiallyinsection, showing the lever in full lines in the position it occupieswhen the grip is open and in dotted lines the position it occupies whenthe grip is closed. Fig. 3 is an end View of the grip in an openposition. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the upper grip. Fig. 5is a like view of the lower grip.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the mining-car, which is provided with adraw-bar 2 for attaching thereto the grip, which will now be describedin detail.

The grip consists of a substantially rectangular block 3, provided onits inner face with a groove 4 to permit the entering and disen- -shownin Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Serial No. 24,704. (No model.)

gagement of the cable 5 with the grips 6 and 7, respectively. The block3 carries at its rear end an upwardly-extending arm 8, having an angularor hook end 9, which is adapted for insertion into and engagement withthe draw-bar 2 to hold the grip in position, as The upper grip 6 isprovided with a post 10, arranged centrally of its upper face andextends upwardly through the opening in the block 5 and is adapted to beengaged by the cam 11 of the operating-lever 12. This lever is pivotallysuspended on the shaft or bolt 14,which is mounted in a pair of lugs 15,formed integral with the block 3. This upper grip 6 is held normally inan elevated position by means of springs 16, which are arranged upon thebolts 17, engaging the grip 6 and extending upwardly through aperturesprovided therefor in the block 3. The lower grip 7 is held rigidly inits seat in the block 3 by means of a pin 18, passing transverselythrough the block and grip. v

The lever 12 is or may be provided with a shoulder or projection 19,which will engage the upper forward corner of the block 3 and limit thedownward movement of the lever 12 to prevent the striking of this leverwith the upper end of the front bolt 16. The upper grip 6 and the lowergrip 7 are each provided with a concave roughened gripping-surface 6 and7, respectively, so that the same will retain their firm grip upon thecable when in engagement therewith.

The operation of the device it is believed can be readily understoodfrom the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, as it will be observed that when the lever is inposition, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the cam 11will be out of engagement-with the post 10 and the springs 16 will holdthe upper grip 6 elevated in the position in which it is shown in Figs.2 and 3. The cable 5 may then be readily inserted in the groove or slot4 in the side of the block into position between the two grips, and whenin this position the lever 12 is thrown downwardly to the position shownin full lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings and the position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 2, causing the cam 11 to engage with the top of the post10 and depress the upper grip 6 into engagement with the cable. Thelever 12 when in this position being of greater weight than the tensionof the springs 16 holds the grip 6 in engagement with the cable. Thegrip may be readily detached by elevating the lever 12, which willpermit the springs 1.6 to lift the upper grip 6, when the cable may bereadily disengaged through the slot 4.

The grip may be removed from the drawbar 2 when disengaged from thecable by lifting upwardly on the block, so as to permit of thedisengagement of the hooked end 9 of the arm 8. This constructionpermits of the ready removal of the grip from one mining-car and theplacing of the same upon another when desired.

It will be noted that various changes may be made in the details ofconstruction Without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A grip for cable-propelled cars, comprising a rectangular block providedin one side with a recess, a supporting-arm formed integral with theblock at one end and extending upwardly at right angles to the block;said arm having its free end bent at right angles to the arm, avertically movable upper grip arranged in the block above the recess andprovided with a serrated engaging face, a post formed integral with theupper face of said block centrally thereof and extending upwardlythrough the block, a pair of lugs formed integral with the upper face ofsaid block, an operating-lever pivotally mounted in said lugs, a camcarried on the lower end of said lever for engagement with the post ofthe upper grip to depress said grip, a lug or stop formed integral withthe lever between the cam and the free end of the lever for theengagement with the block to limit the downward movement of said lever,a pair of bolts connected to the upper grip, one on either side of thepost, springs arranged on said belts with the upper end engaging theheads of the bolts and their lower ends seated in recesses providedtherefor in the block, and a stationary lower jaw seated in the blockand provided with a serrated upper face substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN H. VANDEGRIFT.

Witnesses:

CHAS. HARRIS, L. P. FLICKINGER.

